Toms River, N.J. - Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman and Colonel Rick Fuentes, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, presented badges to New Jersey’s newest state troopers during graduation ceremonies at Pine Belt Arena Friday morning.

Montclair resident, Thomas Gilroy of the 2nd Platoon, 3rd Squad, was among the graduates. Other area residents who also graduated, included Allen Cheng of Bloomfield, Bryan Haczyk and James Calero of Nutley and Thomas Massot of Glen Ridge.

The 154th New Jersey State Police class started with 200 recruits and graduated 149 troopers. Of this graduating class, approximately one-third are minority graduates, approximately 80% have a Bachelor's Degree or higher, 40% played college sports, 25% have prior law enforcement experience, and 21% have prior military experience (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, National Guard, and Coast Guard).

The 154th class completed 24 weeks of strenuous physical and academic training consisting of exhaustive classroom and practical training scenarios. The recruits participated in extensive training and role-playing exercises focused on motor vehicle stops, domestic violence situations, human dignity, and cultural diversity. In the area of cultural diversity, the trooper recruits received detailed instruction from both State Police instructors and instructors from community and cultural organizations.

The life of a New Jersey State Police recruit is challenging in many ways. The New Jersey State Police Training Academy is one of the few residential academies in the nation. Recruits report to the academy on Monday, and they do not return home until dismissal on Friday. During this time, recruits are away from their families during significant life events. While this class was in the academy, nine recruits endured a family death, one recruit got married, and 10 recruits got engaged. With all of these events happening, the graduating recruits maintained their focus and concentration to successfully complete the training.

"Today's graduating class includes approximately one-third minority graduates, which continues a welcome diversity trend within the State Police ranks," said Governor Chris Christie. "Together with the 152nd and 153rdClasses, these new troopers represent another step in our continuing effort to develop and maintain a State Police force that reflects the diverse population it serves."

"The State Police is not only recognized as one of the finest statewide law enforcement agencies in the nation and the most visible symbol of law enforcement throughout our state, but every individual who wears a trooper's badge is recognized as a leader -- on the road, in his or her neighborhood, and in the community at large," said Acting Attorney General Hoffman. "That is why it is vital that those leaders not only receive exhaustive training, but also reflect the character and composition of our great state."

"The intensive training that troopers received and the friendships they forged over the past 24 weeks will stay with them for their entire careers and beyond," said Colonel Rick Fuentes. "The life of a New Jersey State Trooper is more challenging than ever, but in return they are rewarded by protecting and serving our communities. As these men and women proudly wear our uniform, they will be viewed as role models and leaders. Being a New Jersey State Trooper is more than a job; it's a responsibility to lead by example."

In addition to honoring all graduates from the 154th class, Colonel Fuentes presented the following awards to many Troopers for outstanding service.

Each applicant applying to the State Police is required to have a Bachelor’s Degree, or alternatively, a minimum of 60 college credits, plus two years of work experience. The probationary troopers will be assigned to stations throughout the state, and over the next 11 weeks, the new troopers will begin their careers under the watchful eye of their Trooper-Coaches and supervisors.

NEWARK, NJ – Khalil Wheeler-Weaver, 20, of Orange, is set to appear in court on Tuesday, December 13 on charges that he allegedly killed New Jersey City University Sophmore Sarah Butler, 20, of Montclair.

Wheeler-Weaver will appear before the Hon. Ronald Wigler, PJ Cr. at the Essex County Superior Court, officials announced.

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ - It was the one day everyone wanted to get a parking ticket. "Today" show host Hoda Kotb impersonated a meter maid in what she called, "half prank, half good deed," and ticketed cars with a different kind of ticket in and around South Orange Avenue in South Orange.

After undergoing a transformation in her appearance with make-up and ...

TRENTON, NJ - The New Jersey School Boards Association announced Wednesday that it will assist local boards of education in exploring possible legal action against a company that allegedly sold artificial turf fields to schools across the state with full knowledge that the product was defective.

After a recent article by nj.com, in which they conducted an investigation into the faulty turf ...

NEWARK, NJ - An arrest was made Tuesday in the murder of Sarah Butler, 20, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and Montclair Police Chief Todd Conforti have announced during a press conference in Newark on Wednesday.

Authorities announced that they have arrested Khalil Wheeler-Weaver, of Orange, who is suspected of the murder of Butler by strangulation.

MONTCLAIR, NJ - The 28th Annual Kwanzaa celebration will take place at Montclair Public Library on Sunday, December 11 from 2-4pm.

Located at 50 South Fullerton Avenue, this year's celebration will feature Mama Yaa, who is no stranger to the Montclair Kwanzaa event. She will kick off the ceremony with a lighting of the seven candles of Kwanzaa and a proclamation of the seven principles of ...

MONTCLAIR, NJ - United States Attorney Paul Fishman will join Montclair Police Chief Todd Conforti during the coffee with a cop series. The public is invited to ask questions and mingle with these top two law enforcement officials on December 9 at Crazy Mocha.

The event will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at 491 Bloomfield Avenue.

Any armchair theoretical physicist knows that Stephen Hawking has pursued a lifelong quest to come up with a Theory of Everything. This all-encompassing theory would tie together general relativity (large scale and high mass galaxies, stars, etc), quantum theory (quantum mechanics, quarks, atoms, subatomic particles), and Newtonian physics (gravity on small bodies, gas laws, electromagnetism) to ...

MADISON, NJ – It’s clear the Welsh love to sing as the evening moves on with relatives gathering for Christmas dinner at the Thomas home in Wales.

The play opens with three children and then a chorus singing “In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,” a melancholy tune that conjures visions of Swansea, a village in Wales, with “fallen snow on ...